Shahad Ali
Senior Press Pass Correspondent
University of the West Indies
The majority of young men lead very busy lives. Every Friday night they must groom their hair, put on their best shirt and hit the nightclubs with hopes of expanding and improving the quality of their social network. For Kevin Chan, however, this is not so. His fascination with the club life is minimal and he prefers to party outdoors. An avid diver, hiker and overall fitness junkie, Chan declares that the best fog to breathe does not come out of a machine. Having recently completed his Bachelors of Science degree in Environmental Natural Resources Management with a minor in Marine Biology, Chan's passion for the environment has always been practical. He disclosed to gieMAGAZINE that he despised the theory he had to tolerate during the three years of his first degree. "Being in touch with nature is calming. You always see something different no matter how many times you travel the same path," expressed the explorer. Chan, who is a qualified PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) diver, takes every opportunity to dive underwater whether it is to hunt or simply for recreation. He recalled the first time he saw a six-foot, black fin shark. He was a bit intimidated at first, but the shark simply took a glance at him and went about its way. The explorer describes the depths of the ocean as a whole new world. "There is nothing more spectacular than what lies beneath the ocean. There are so many different things to find out. Just imagine, we know more about the surface of the moon as compared to the depths beneath the ocean!" Chan said enthusiastically.
He even recalled a moment in which he dived from a tall cliff hitting the water with such force that the majority of his body stung. "I love the thrill of it!" he exclaimed. The Vice President of the University Health, Fitness and Adventure Fraternity Hiking Club, Chan has ventured to some of the country's top hiking locations including Matelot and Paria Bay. Every year, the club tries its best to take on as many challenging hikes as it can. The club also caters for those who may not be very physically fit, hiking to Three Pools and Rio Seco falls from time to time. Apart from hiking and diving Chan considers himself a fitness fanatic. He once was an active member of the UWI Tricking Society. He admits that he is a bit rough around the edges with the sport, but hopes to restart soon. "The sport of tricking requires discipline and dedication. Pursuing a full time degree can challenge you in more ways than one," he said, laughing. Chan, who is looking forward to career opportunities in the field, indicated that he detests the idea of being behind a desk for the entire day. "I would love to work outdoors!" he exclaimed. His experience over the years has been expansive, and he is very confident in the skills he has to offer. The explorer encouraged all youths that the outdoors is a source of alternative fun. "A lot of people say that there are not many things you can do in Trinidad and Tobago, however, living on an island there are more recreational activities to do as compared to living in the middle of a continent." If you would like to find out more about Kevin Chan and his hiking group you can visit the facebook group at the following url: https://www.facebook.com/groups/115241225199240/